New Bivalent Covid-19 Vaccines Available to Boost City's Immunity

September 9, 2022

Boosters 2.0 Will Be Available at NYC Health + Hospital Facilities, Local Pharmacies, Health Care Providers, and Through At-Home Vaccination for Eligible New Yorkers

Updated Bivalent Boosters Provide New Protection Against Omicron COVID Variant, Sub-Lineages

New York – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced distribution plans for the new bivalent COVID-19 boosters –Pfizer (12+) and Moderna (18+)– through NYC Health + Hospitals facilities, community-based health care providers, and pharmacies, in addition to being available through the at-home vaccination program for homebound and/or elderly New Yorkers. Additionally, the city will launch a campaign in the coming weeks to emphasize the importance of staying current on booster shots to protect New Yorkers against severe COVID-19 health outcomes and to get ahead of the virus going into the fall and winter months. The updated boosters are more effective at protecting against the latest variants and are recommended for all New Yorkers ages 12-and up, whose last COVID-19 vaccination was more than two months ago. New Yorkers can check with their providers to see if they are offering updated boosters or search NYC Vaccine Finder online for locations offering booster shots.

"We now have so many new tools in our fight against COVID-19, and this updated booster is an important new addition to that arsenal. We've provided tens of millions of free at-home tests to New Yorkers, provided tens of thousands of prescriptions of life-saving treatments, and this updated booster will ensure we are helping even more New Yorkers stay safe," said Mayor Adams. "As we head into the fall, and New Yorkers begin spending more time indoors, I encourage all who are eligible to get the bivalent booster to stay protected."

"As we continue to ebb and flow along with the virus, we must continue to protect ourselves and our loved ones and the single best way to do that is to be up-to-date with your vaccine and booster shots," said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. "I encourage every eligible New Yorker – particularly those over 65 with co-occurring conditions – to reach out to their primary care provider, community pharmacy, or any of the city-related locations to schedule their booster shot appointment today. Thank you to our partners in government and in the medical community for your role in helping to keep people safe and healthy."

"This is a significant development to prevent COVID transmission, and to continue to protect against severe illness and death," said New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. "Updated bivalent boosters can blunt the scale and impact of future waves and will keep our city healthy through the fall and winter, whatever comes our way."

"Throughout the pandemic New Yorkers have trusted NYC Health + Hospitals with their care and we remain on the cutting edge of the COVID-19 response. We will continue to have New York City's back, and are proud to start offering this updated COVID-19 booster at our facilities across the five boroughs," said Ted Long, MD, MHS, senior vice president, Ambulatory Care and Population Health, NYC Health + Hospitals. "This booster can protect you from getting so sick you have to go to the hospital, which is why I'm urging all my patients, and all New Yorkers to join me in getting vaccinated."

Doses began arriving in New York City from manufacturers this week. Roughly 200 providers pre-registered to receive the updated boosters, which include a mix of private providers, Federally Qualified Health Centers, hospitals, independent pharmacies, and urgent cares. Some have already started administering the updated boosters. In addition, over 550 pharmacies – including 300 chain pharmacies in New York City – will be offering updated boosters.

NYC Health + Hospitals will offer the updated boosters to existing patients at all 11 hospitals and many Gotham Health clinics as supplies arrive at those locations. Seven NYC Health + Hospitals sites will begin offering updated boosters to the general public next week. The following hospitals will be open from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday to Friday:

Walk-ins and appointments for the public will be available at these facilities:

• NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, 462 1st Avenue, Manhattan
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, 79-01 Broadway, Queens
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi​, 1400 Pelham Parkway South, Bronx
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County, 686 New York Avenue, Brooklyn
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, 234 East 149th Street, Bronx
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, 82-68 164th Street, Queens
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Vanderbilt, 165 Vanderbilt Avenue, Staten Island*

* Schedule may vary at this site. Once appointments become available, refer to NYC Vaccine Finder online for days and times.

The NYC Health + Hospitals and Gotham Health system will offer the updated booster to existing patients, with outreach prioritizing the most vulnerable patients. Hospitals will offer the updated Pfizer booster, and Gotham clinics – exclusive of NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Vanderbilt – will offer the updated Moderna booster.

Homebound Vaccination Program

New York City continues to offer at-home Pfizer vaccinations for New York residents who are homebound or at least 65 years old. Eligible New Yorkers can still sign up for any dose in the series, including the updated booster, online for an in-home vaccination or do so by calling 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692).

Street Health Outreach & Wellness (SHOW) Program

NYC Health + Hospitals will also be administering the updated booster vaccines through its eight SHOW mobile units. SHOW provides COVID-19 tests and vaccinations, basic primary care, behavioral health, wound care, basic material necessities, and harm reduction services to New Yorkers who are unsheltered.

Additionally, DOHMH will launch a vaccination campaign in the weeks ahead that will emphasize the importance of vaccination. The ads will run on social media and on other media platforms. Further, DOHMH is:

• Engaging with community health providers on updated guidance,
• Providing financial support for independent providers for vaccination-related activities,
• Activating inter-faith partnerships to get booster messaging and announcements with their networks,
• Deploying the Public Health Corps to work with New Yorkers most at risk, and
• Working with the New York City Department of Education and child care programs on communication with families.

While around 89 percent of adult New Yorkers have completed their primary vaccination series, only 47.6 percent of adults have received a booster or additional shot.